saving

American  

[sey-ving] / ˈseɪ vɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending or serving to save; rescuing; preserving.

2. compensating; redeeming.

   a saving sense of humor.

   Synonyms:

   redemptory

3. thrifty; economical.

   a saving housekeeper.

4. making a reservation.

   a saving clause.

---

noun

1. a reduction or lessening of expenditure or outlay.

   a saving of 10 percent.

2. something that is saved.

3. savings, sums of money saved by economy and laid away.

4. Law. a reservation or exception.

preposition

1. except.

   Nothing remains saving these ruins.

2. with all due respect to or for.

   saving your presence.

conjunction

1. except; save.

saving British  

/ ˈseɪvɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending to save or preserve

2. redeeming or compensating (esp in the phrase saving grace )

3. thrifty or economical

4. law denoting or relating to an exception or reservation

   a saving clause in an agreement

---

noun

1. preservation or redemption, esp from loss or danger

2. economy or avoidance of waste

3. reduction in cost or expenditure

   a saving of 100 dollars

4. anything saved

5. (plural) money saved for future use

6. law an exception or reservation

preposition

1. with the exception of

conjunction

1. except

Other Word Forms

• nonsaving
  adjective
• savingly
  adverb
• unsaving
  adjective
• unsavingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of saving

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at save ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The results of a project carried out in Nice and along the French Riviera show why anticipation and preventive evacuation measures remain the only truly effective means of saving lives.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

A surfer who used a floating technique to survive after he and his brother got caught in a rip current is fronting a national safety campaign in the hope of saving lives.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

A hot shower is no longer a luxury: Boilers are working again, saving residents the trouble of warming up pots of water before bathing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Intentionally discussing aspirations and values instead can help daters determine if they align on spending and saving habits, dating coach Damona Hoffman said.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

The question of whether they ought to rescue Edward Ashton from certain death in a broken balloon might have posed an ethical dilemma, had there been any chance of saving him.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• preserving